Congratulations to Faculty with New Appointments
The UW Department of Dermatology is thrilled to announce six new faculty appointments, effective July 1, 2025.
These new roles reflect their outstanding achievements, dedication to academic medicine, and continued contributions to our department and the broader dermatology community.
Please join us in congratulating our colleagues as they begin this exciting next chapter. We look forward to the continued impact they will make in their new roles.
Tomoko Akaike, MD, is shifting from Acting Instructor to Assistant Professor without tenure on the Clinician-Scholar pathway.
Dr. Akaike joined the Department of Dermatology in 2018 as a visiting scientist. She continued her research in the Nghiem Lab as a senior postdoctoral fellow from 2020-2022. Since 2022, Dr. Akaike has served as an Acting Instructor based in the Nghiem Lab.
Lisa Maier, MD, is shifting from Clinical Professor to Professor of Clinical Practice.
Dr. Maier first joined the Department of Dermatology as a Clinical Associate Professor in 2016. She holds joint appointments as an attending physician at UW Medicine and the Puget Sound VA Health System. In 2023, she was promoted to Clinical Professor.
Kendra Bergstrom, MD, is shifting from Clinical Associate Professor to Associate Professor of Clinical Practice.
Dr. Bergstrom joined the Department of Dermatology as a practicing physician at the Roosevelt Dermatology Clinic in 2017. She has served as the Medical Director for the Roosevelt Dermatology Clinic since January 2022, where she has overseen significant growth in provider capacity.
Deva Wells, MD, is shifting from Acting Instructor to Acting Assistant Professor.
Dr. Wells is a 2022 alumna of the UW Dermatology residency program where she served as Chief Resident. Following the completion of her Dermatology residency, Dr. Wells joined the UW Department of Dermatology VA faculty team as an Acting Instructor and has held this role to the present.
Wesley Wu, MD, is shifting from Acting Assistant Professor to Clinical Assistant Professor.
Since 2019, Dr. Wu has served as a Mohs micrographic surgeon at the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health System (VA), holding the role of Acting Assistant Professor on the Department of Dermatology VA faculty team.
Masaoki Kawasumi, MD, PhD is moving to a new faculty position at Ohio State University.
Dr. Kawasumi joined the UW faculty in 2006, and launched his lab in 2016 to study molecular mechanisms of UV-mediated diseases (skin cancer and lupus). His last day with UW Dermatology was June 30, 2025. He will continue his research at his new position at Ohio State University.
